Living Aboard a Boat

The MARINADELREYBOATPeople

Come take a walk on the wild side.Daryl, Rick, Lila, Kate and Tawny and all the others out thee are just some very nice personal examples of why so many of us have been drawn to the lifestyle. For these, and so many other reasons, are the reasons why I keep working so hard at promoting this lifestyle. And while there are failures, successes continue to outweigh. Nevertheless, I find it is a success when a person who should not be living aboard is ultimately talked out of the lifestyle. We don’t win with numbers, but rather with more examples of how wonderful and personally fulfilling this lifestyle can be.

Calm waters,

Mark N.
www.livingaboard.net

This attached article reflects the ongoing tension between the little board community and the community-at-large. The article itself, and the accompanying commentary, overtly reflect the ongoing tension between historic versus progressive movement, and the monetary concerns that are reflected throughout the land-based community when it comes to support of the community and the waterways. Given the dilapidated condition of many of the boats described in this article, it would seem as if the community presented in this case is a perfect case study of this disconnect.

One issue not highlighted in this article is that of environmental concerns. This is the third leg of the anti-live aboard stool.

As a member of both communities it is hard not to see the core justification in both sides’ position, although so many of the positions are often fueled by mis-perception and scapegoating.  In reality, this dialog, relived in scores of communities, tends to be more aptly described as a political dialog rather than a social one.  For instance, the boaters are a group easily targeted, diverse and unrepresented, while other segments of society who are better represented can be  a much more significant draw on a community’s social, monetary and environmental infrastructure (see, for instance, fishing boats and impoverished communities).\\

With that in mind, here is one recent example of this dialog.

Bainbridge liveaboards facing ‘end of days’ - Bainbridge Island Review

In future discussions, we will visit some of the neighborhood revitalization issues and the impact on the boating community.

Calm waters,

Mark N.
www.livingaboard.net

Here is an article that is very high level and probably not many of the issues that  I would point out when it comes to choosing the right boat.  We have posted a video on the multimedia page, which includes lots of interviews and opinions on the subject area.  but while the advice here is accurate, through the years it has appeared that the tried and true test of whether a person will buy a new or used boat is more aptly one of preference and desire for new boat then it is a question of logic.  for all of the reasons suggested by the author and the section “depreciation”,  logic nearly always suggests that the best value is in a used boat-something tested and already refined for purpose.

A very happy new year everybody; and as always thank you very much for visiting.  Enjoy the article!

 http://liveaboardliving.com/new-or-used.htm

Calm waters,

Mark N.
www.livingaboard.net

Time and Tides - YahooNews - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington

Calm waters,

Mark N.
www.livingaboard.net

Liveaboard-Overview

how to get rid of eye floaters: Boat Living Revisited « 028818 Blog

Best,  Mark Nicholas
www.livingaboard.net

Cutting the Tether: Banking and Finance Made Easy(er) for Liveaboards

One of the cruising liveaboard’s greatest challenges has to do with managing finances while away from the home port. The simple tasks of staying in touch, getting cash, receiving bills and paying bills were impossible. Although many liveaboards would typically want to bring their lives and all of their possessions with them for total self-sufficiency, bringing too much money was ill advised and even illegal in entering another country’s territory with more than a certain amount of cash ($10,000 US is the common limit).

All of these problems were tied to our inability to receive and send our mail. Unless there was a land-based person to receive your mail and pay your bills, you would find yourself up the river. Even with the Internet, evolving software technology and security concerns prevented a full scale rollout of location-independent internet banks, or banks designed for people who would never walk into a single branch.

Those challenges are now behind us.

Automatic teller machines (ATMs) began to change the world by allowing customers to get their money and make deposits from anywhere in the world. In the second generation of changes, we were given direct deposit and electronic bill payment. In that transition, practically every reputable financial institution began to take automatic deposits from any source, and offer online statements, electronic check writing and bill payment programs. Programs such as Money and Quicken rose in prominence, allowing you to download all of your information into your local computer allowing you to carefully monitor your accounts, reconcile your balances and act as an all-in-one interface with your financial institutions.

Today, the third generation is well underway with the latest round of innovative changes. The first is the electronic receipt and delivery of mail by companies such as EarthClassMail (www.earthclassmail.com). This is not the same old mail forwarding company, but a company that can act as your permanent address to receive and deliver your mail electronically - no matter where you are.

The second is that several financial institutions are beginning to permit their customers to deposit checks without ever having to physically visit a location (not even an ATM). For instance, if you have an account with USAA Bank, you can deposit your checks by simply scanning (or photographing) the front and back of the check and emailing USAA the photographs. Earthclass mail has another innovative solution in which it offers a service of an automatic deposit of any check received in your mail to an account you have set up with Wells Fargo (hopefully more banks will become part of their program). In this case, you wouldn’t even need to physically receive the check in order to make an instant deposit.

The third innovation, now beginning to see greater use, is something known as an account aggregator. Account aggregation simply means that you can visit a single site to learn about all of your accounts, from regular bank accounts, to brokerage accounts, IRAs, 401ks, stock options, frequent flier accounts, loan accounts, etc. Some aggregation services also display emails and contact lists. With these different program, you have the tools to be entirely location independent. Go cruise. Go live.

Of course you should choose your financial institution carefully. Some online banks offer high interest rate savings plans (such as ING Direct) without having to lock up your balances by purchasing a long term certificate of deposit (CD) and can work with any of your other banks and brokers. And there are lots of other options as well.

Internet/Online Banks.

• Many banks allow you to check your balances online and provide a full service of bill receipt and payment. Bill payment programs allow you to send anyone a check by simply typing in the details online. Cash can be obtained via automated teller machines although most (but not all) charge a fee if you are not using the bank’s own ATM. The primary disadvantages with banks are that they offer few investment options and tend to pay a very low rate of interest. In the U.S. deposit accounts are insured by the FDIC to certain limits.

Full Service Institutions.

• Brokerage companies such as Fidelity, Schwab and E-Trade (there are countless others) allow you to make deposits into your account just like any bank including through mail and direct deposit, and allow all of the same bill payment services as banks. Brokerages offer other benefits, including the ability to earn a higher rate of interest on cash balances and provide access to a virtually unlimited number of investment choices. Also, many brokerages are beginning to offer free ATM withdrawals and even reimburse service charges charged by the owner of the ATM.

Account Aggregation.

• A large number of institutions are offering an account aggregation service, a service that permits customers to access every account that they have through a single web page. The kinds of accounts that can be viewed include bank account balances from a nearly unlimited number of banks, credit card balances, outstanding loans and mortgages and they even track multiple email accounts and frequent flier mileage programs. Popular programs are offered through Bank of America (My Portfolio), and Fidelity and Schwab offer other popular systems as well. Most are built on the same platform and are similar in function.

Earthclassmail.

• I’m obviously sold on electronic mail delivery. For instance, earthclassmail will receive your mail in a secure facility, open and immediately provide to you electronically only what you want them to, forward only what you want them to, and deposit all checks you receive. I will keep an eye out for competent competitors but as of now don’t see any that are reputable and capable of being around for decades to come.

Security is a risk, particularly with the greater use of email, credit cards and online tools.  This is certainly a very significant issue not only for all of society, but particularly for people who are forced to access the internet through a computer belonging to someone else or available for public use. Watch out for prying eyes (especially in Internet cafe’s).  Use an anti-virus program.  Use adaware and spybot software (both are free) to periodically check your system for unwanted visitors.  Use an account aggregator to take routine snapshots of your accounts and consider the nearly instantaneous account reconciliation tools offered by Money and Quicken.  And seriously consider the use of some kind of credit monitoring service.   Be smart and aware, and remember that security is best managed with vigilance, so consider dealing with providers who offer some protection from identity theft – and don’t forget to review your statements and check your activity whenever you can so that you can put an end to any potential problem as quickly as possible. 

But with all of that said, the future is upon us.  If you embrace it, for the first time you may be able to finally cut that tether. 

In 1990 the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering offered forty recommendations to its member countries to provide a system to help stop money laundering. After the terrorist attacks of 2001 the United States adopted the Patriot Act and the recommendations of the FATF.

One of the recommendations adopted by the Patriot Act requires financial institutions such as banks and brokers to perform “due diligence on all new customers to verify their identity.” Many institutions do this, in part, by requiring governmental identification and an actual street address (no post office box or mail drop), things many full-time liveaboards (particularly transient liveaboards) are not be able to provide. When it comes to governmental identification, although some states will accept a marina address many will not. And even with those financial institutions that would accept a marina address, cruising liveaboards lack a marina as well, leaving them in a bit of a quandary. Unless you choose to get your accounts opened before you abandon your land ties many banks and brokers would simply rather not do business with you.

This poses other problems for U.S. liveaboards as well. For instance, some states require a street address before issuing a driver’s license. Health and auto insurance carriers may not provide coverage for health, liability and vehicle insurance. Federal Express and other mail services will not deliver to a PO Box either (although they may take a marina address).

Liveaboards wanting to register to vote may have problems as well (note: there is no constitutional right to vote). Many states require a physical address and form of identification before permitting residents to vote. These rules have been put in place not only for the purpose of preventing money laundering, but also in their attempt to manage voter fraud and prevent voting by illegal or non-residents.

The liveaboard community, being so small and divergent, lacks active advocates or a community to coalesce to build exceptions for liveaboards into these laws. Ironically, the homeless community is not quite so small, supported by lobbyist groups and advocates (such as the National Coalition for the Homeless and various veterans groups) who want to be sure that homeless people are afforded their constitutional rights. Many states, either by legislation or court case, now permit homeless people to vote. In their advocacy, now in many states a physical address such as “under the bridge” or “on the docks” may be sufficient.

It sure is an odd world.

Liveaboards continue to address these challenges in a variety of ways. Perhaps you can get your account opened by establishing a personal relationship with your local banker and get a license by being particularly nice to the folks issuing your drivers license. Also, physical address such as those provided by http://www.earthclassmail.com have demonstrated success over the past couple of years. Over time these personal touches have become less meaningful. Other techniques such as using the address of family and friends may also be successful but can result in problems such as the denial of insurance or even a criminal fraud charge if the artificial address is ever revealed.

There is no easy solution here. For now, unless we can all get together on this, we should wish the homeless organizations success on all of our behalves.

At long last, I am happy to offer a discussion of the costs of boating and a guide through the free spreadsheet available at www.livingaboard.net.

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/living-aboard/46752-ideal-liveaboard-boat.html